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How many days in Alonissos? 4 days, half on land and half on the marine park
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Alonissos is the quiet one of the Northern Sporades: no airport, no big resorts, one main road and a coastline of pine-backed pebble coves. It sits at the edge of the National Marine Park of Alonissos and the Northern Sporades, created in 1992 and still one of the largest marine protected areas in the Mediterranean, home to the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. Give it four days: two for the island itself and its walking paths, one for a full boat day into the park, and one slow day on the beaches. The rhythm is simple: swim in the morning, rest in the heat, eat late.
Short answer
Three days is the minimum once you count the ferry: Chora and Patitiri, one boat trip into the marine park and one beach day. Four days lets you walk a few of the marked paths and rent a small boat yourself.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Patitiri and the old Chora
Morning. Arrive at Patitiri, the port and main village, rebuilt after the 1965 earthquake damaged the hilltop capital. Drop your bags and walk 15 minutes north along the coast to Votsi, a small fishing cove where locals swim off the rocks. Back in Patitiri, the information centre of MOm, the Greek monk seal conservation society, explains the marine park in a few panels and is worth 20 minutes if it is open.
Afternoon. Visit the Alonissos Museum by the harbour, a privately run collection on island life, seafaring and piracy (a few euros; check summer hours). In the heat of the day, take the small island bus or a taxi up to Chora (the old village, also called Palia Alonissos), about 10 minutes by road or roughly an hour on foot by the old cobbled path.
Evening. Chora was largely abandoned after the earthquake and later restored, house by house, by Greek and foreign owners. Walk its stone lanes, past small churches and restored houses, to the edge of the village for sunset over Skopelos, then eat on one of the terraces facing west. A main course costs about €12-18.
The last bus down from Chora can be early outside July and August, so check the time at the stop or book a taxi; there are only a handful on the island.
Day 2: Beaches of the south and east coast
Morning. Rent a scooter (about €25-35 a day) or a small car (about €45-70) and head south of Patitiri. Marpounta and Vythisma are short rides away; Vythisma is a pebble beach reached by steps through the pines. Then drive to Kokkinokastro, a beach under red cliffs; the headland above is believed to be the site of ancient Ikos, the island's old name, though there is little to see on the ground.
Afternoon. Continue north along the main road to Chrysi Milia and Milia, two sheltered coves with tavernas or beach bars in summer, and then to Leftos Gialos, one of the best-known swimming spots on the island, with white pebbles and a small taverna above the beach.
Evening. Stop at Steni Vala, a tiny harbour about 30 minutes north of Patitiri, where fishing boats and yachts tie up in front of a few fish tavernas. Order the catch of the day by weight and ask the price per kilo first; good fish is often €50-80 a kilo.
The east coast is calmer when the summer meltemi wind blows from the north; if one bay is choppy, the next one south is usually better.
Day 3: Boat day into the National Marine Park
Morning. Take a full-day boat trip from Patitiri, usually leaving around 9:30-10:00 and returning around 17:00-18:00, for about €50-75 per person with lunch. Most routes pass Peristera, the long island opposite Alonissos, and continue to Kyra Panagia, where a monastery stands above a natural harbour.
Afternoon. Swim stops are typically at quiet coves on Kyra Panagia or Peristera, chosen on the day by the captain according to the wind. The boats sail past Gioura and Psathoura on longer routes. Monk seals are rarely seen, and captains are not allowed to chase them; treat a sighting as luck, not a promise.
Evening. Back in Patitiri, eat at a taverna along the waterfront and try the island's famous Alonissos cheese pie, a spiral of thin pastry filled with cheese and fried until crisp. It is served everywhere, often for €6-9.
Certified divers can visit the Peristera shipwreck, a 5th-century-BC ancient cargo wreck with thousands of amphorae, which was opened to visits as an underwater museum. Visits run only with licensed dive centres and need booking well ahead.
Day 4: Footpaths and a boat of your own
Morning. Alonissos has a network of marked, numbered footpaths across the island, most between 1 and 3 hours. Start early from Chora and walk one of the old paths down towards the coast through olive groves, holm oak and pine; pick up a trail map in Patitiri, and carry at least 1.5 litres of water per person.
Afternoon. Rent a small motorboat in Patitiri; boats up to 30 hp can be hired without a licence for about €80-130 a day plus fuel. Use it to reach coves that are hard by road, like Agios Dimitrios on the north-east coast with its long white spit of pebbles, or Kalamakia for a fish lunch.
Evening. Have a final dinner in Chora or Votsi. If you stay in Patitiri, walk up to the small square at the top of the main street for a drink; nightlife on Alonissos is a few bars, not clubs.
Ask at the rental desk which areas of the park are closed to private boats. The core zone around Piperi is strictly protected and off-limits.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, keep Day 1 for Patitiri and Chora, combine the best east-coast beaches with Steni Vala on Day 2, and do the marine park boat trip on Day 3. You lose the footpaths and the self-drive boat.
Got extra days?
A 5th or 6th day fits well on Skopelos, about 30 minutes away by fast boat, for its whitewashed Chora and monasteries, or on Skiathos (about 1-1.5 hours) for sandy beaches before your flight. Dive certificate holders can add a second day at sea.
Where to stay in Alonissos
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Patitiri rooms | Family-run rooms near the port and the buses, with easy ferry connections. | €45-80 |
| Mid-range | Votsi | A short walk from Patitiri, quieter, with a swimming cove below. | €80-140 |
| Mid-range | Chora (old village) | Stone houses with sunset views; you need a scooter, taxi or bus for the beaches. | €90-160 |
| Comfort | Boutique hotels and villas around Patitiri and Chora | Pools and sea views, the most comfortable option on an island without big resorts. | €170-320 |
Getting around
There is no airport: most people fly to Skiathos and take a fast boat (about 1-1.5 hours) or ferry, or sail from Volos (about 3-4.5 hours) or Agios Konstantinos in summer. Book ferries on the operators' sites and check timetables close to the date, because they change by season. On the island, one main road runs from Patitiri north to Agios Dimitrios, and a small bus links Patitiri and Chora. A scooter is the easiest way around; taxis are few, and summer taxi boats from Patitiri serve some beaches for about €10-20 return.
What to eat in Alonissos
Food is simple and local. The Alonissos cheese pie (tyropita) is the dish the island is known for across Greece: coiled thin pastry, fried and crisp. Fish comes in daily from the local boats, and you will see kakavia (fishermen's soup), grilled sardines and squid. Try local honey and goat and sheep cheeses, and order horta (wild greens) with any meal. A taverna meal with house wine costs about €15-25 per person; a fish dinner can be €35-50. Many places close outside May to early October.
Best time to visit
June and September are best, with sea temperatures around 23-25°C, fewer people and open tavernas. July and August are warm, around 28-32°C, and busiest in the first half of August, around the 15 August holiday. May and October are lovely for walking but some boats and restaurants are not yet or no longer running, and ferries are fewer.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €30 | €55 | €120 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €40 | €70 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €30 | €60 |
| Local transport | €10 | €20 | €40 |
| Total per person, per day | about €75 | about €145 | about €290 |
Approximate 2026 prices; 'sights' here mostly means boat trips. Greece charges a per-room, per-night climate resilience fee, higher from April to October, and in summer ferry fares from Volos or Skiathos are an extra €20-60 each way.
Before you go
Common questions
Will I see a monk seal?
Probably not, and that is how it should be. The Mediterranean monk seal is shy and endangered, and the rules of the marine park forbid boats from approaching or following it. Some visitors do spot a seal from a boat or the shore, especially in quiet coves, but no responsible operator will guarantee it. Read about the species at the MOm information point in Patitiri instead.
Do I need a car on Alonissos?
Not necessarily. Patitiri, Votsi and Chora are linked by a small bus and by footpaths, and taxi boats reach several beaches in summer. A scooter for one or two days is enough to see the east coast and Steni Vala. Roads are narrow and some beach tracks are steep and unpaved, so drive slowly and do not take a small car down rough tracks.
Is Alonissos good for families?
Yes, if your family likes quiet. Beaches are mostly pebble, not sand, so water shoes help, and many coves get deep quickly. There are no water parks or big resorts. Children usually love the boat day, the swimming stops and the cheese pie, and the short walk between Patitiri and Votsi is easy with kids.
How do I combine Alonissos with Skopelos and Skiathos?
The three islands sit in a line, with boats between them several times a day in summer. A common plan is to fly into Skiathos, take the boat to Alonissos for four nights, then stop on Skopelos for two or three nights on the way back. Outside the summer season, connections drop sharply, so check timetables before you book rooms.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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